Wire grip



Aug. 28, 1923. 1,466,007

c. J. WALTON WIRE GRIP Filed Nov. 2 1919 I v INVENTOIE. By OJIZ/ZJZZQW/ I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2S, 1923.

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oLIrronn J. Watson, or oonrms'swocn, New JEBSE'Y,ASS1GNOR T0 AMERI AN TELEPHONE nun rnLEenArrr ooarrenr, acoaronn'rron or E YORK.

WIRE GRIP/ Application filed November 28, 1919. Serial No. 341,064.

. To all whom it may concern: or Be it known that I CLIFFORD J. WALTON,

'a citizen of the United States, residing at- Collingswood, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Wire Grips, of which the following is aspecification. j

This invention relates to gripping devices for pulling or stringing wires or strands,

and which are designed more particularly for use by linemen 'inconnection with electrical line construction. I

One of'the cardinalobjects of the invention consists in the provision of a device of this character whereby increased and effec- .tive pulling force may be automatically translated through a system of levers into an increased pressure of the jawsof said device upon a. wire or the like. Other and further objects of the invention will here inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device; Fig 2 is a vertical section.

thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of said device on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures. I

Referring to the construction shown, 5 represents the body or main member of the device which is in the form of a bar. Journaled at either end of the bar 5, by means of pins 6 and 7. are actuating levers 8 and 9. Formed on the inner surfaces, and angularly disposed with respect to the axes of the levers 8 and 9, are shown the lugs 10 and 11. The lugs-10 and 11 cooperate with hear slots cooperate with studs 14;, 15 and 16, 17

fixed to the bar 5. The opposing faces of said jaws may be or" any desirable form, and always remain parallel to each other, but move in the same directionin such a manner that there is no relative change in the longitudinal positions of the jaws to each other. or of either to the material-gripped. V

The jaws exert an even pressure upon the wire or strand throughout/the length of the jawsand' avoid cutting or bending of saidwire or strand and also-afford an effective gripping surface. 1 18 designatesa head provided -with' depending arms 19 and-20. Pairs of connecting links 21"an'd 22-'are upper portions'of thejaws 8 andf9 and depending arms 19 and 20. Boltedto the'head' 18 is shown a draft loop 23 to which maybe bolted through, apertures provided in the r I attached a rope for thepurpose of applying pulling force to the device. A recess 24emay be provided in the head 18in alinement with the gripping surfaces of the jaws 12 and 13 for the purpose of seating a portion of strand 01' wire which mayextend cup-f Threaded at its ward beyond said jaws. upper extremity to the rearwardly extending portion of the head 18 is a spindle 24 which carries spring 25. The lowerex tremity of said spindle is adapted to slide within an opening 26 extending vertically it through member'5, when the device is depressed for the reception of a wire or strand, while the spring25. may be seated upon the upper surface of the said mom- 1 her 5.

Normally the jaws of the device are maintained in closed position by means of spring 25. In the operation of the device the head 18 is depressed, thereby causing the actuating members 8 and 9, through the medium of links 21 and 22, to turn about pins 6 and 7, the upper portions of said actuating levers traveling in a, direction opposite to each other. The turning of said actuating levers in the manner indicated translates an upward movement to the lugs 10 and 11, and said lugs revolving in the bearing surfaces of the jaws 12 and 13 cause them to; move upwardly and to spread, so that the wire may be inserted therebetween'." The head is then released, so that spring 25 causes the jaws to move into engagement with the wire. 7 I V The pressure of the jaws on the wire is augmented when tension is exerted on the draft loop 23, owing to the action of levers 8 and 9, and the amount of this pressure increases with every increase in the pull on the j loop. By thismeans a very effective grip.-

ping device is provided;

with said actuating levers and engaging the From'the foregoing, it is thought thatthe construction, operation and many advantages of theherein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art witlr out further description, and it will be understood that various changes n the s ze, shape, proportion'and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without depart-v ing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 1

Having thus described the invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gripping device comprising a body member, a. pair of jaws mounted thereon,

,pivotal hearings in said jaws, actuating levers ,mounted c on said body member independently of said aws, lugsf associated "pivotal bearings in said jaws for causing 'the opening and closing :thereofland means independent of the lugs :for determining the movement of the jaws with respect to the body member. 1

2. A gripping device comprising a body member, a pair of jaws movably mounted thereon provided with parallel co-acting gripping surfaces and having gripping and releasing positions, pivotal-bearing surfaces in/each jaw, actuating levers mounted on said body memberfindependently or" said jaws, and lugsassociated with said actuating' members and engaging said pivotal bearing surfaces for causing said jaws to move into said gripping and releasing positions. j;

' 3. A device comprising jaws provided with gripping surfaces, pivotal bearings in said jaws, actuating levers cooperating therewith, lugs associated with, the, said actua-ting levers for engaging said pivotal V bearings and causing said jaws when actuated to move without relative change in the positions of saidgripping surfaces with'respect to eachother, and means independent of the lugs for determlnlng the movement ofrthe aws with respect to the body member;

4. A gripping device comprising a body anember, a pair of jaws movably mounted thereon, each cofsaid jaws being provided with parallel coa cting surfaces adapted to move in the same direotionand without relative change in their longitudinal positlons with respect to" each: other, pivotal bearings formed in said jaws, actuating le- 7 vers mounted on said body member inde CLIFFORD J. WALTON. 

